Burial vault and method of sealing the same



J. J. SCHEEL BURIAL vAULfr 4AND METHOD oF SEALINC- THE SAME Aug. 14,v 192s.

' Filed sept.12. 1927 I m/en for Patented Aug. i4, 192s.

UNITED STATES PATENT 1 :ons J. scnnnn, or rnrnon, MICHIGAN. g

BURIAL VLUIT .AND METHOD F SEALINGIHE BAIE.

Application and september 1a, im. serial no. 21am...

The invention relatesto improvements in burial vaults and methods of sealing the same, and has for its object the provision of a simple andecient construction and method of this character adequately sealing the vault against the entry of moisture or water.

Another o'bject of the invention is to provide such a vault constructed and arranged to imprison air therein under slight pressure, thereby excluding water or moisture therefrom.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a burial vault construction, so constructed and arranged that the act of placin the cover in position thereon automatica ly and effectively seals the same against the entry of moisture or water.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of procedure in sealing burial '.vaults whereby the same are effectively sealed against theentry of moisture or water from the outside.

Other. objects will appear hereinafter. g'he invention will be best understood by re erence to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and, 1n which 1 h y isa rs tive view, wit portions broliegn awaypeanecshown in section of a burial vault ,embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 an enlarged transverse section of thesame,and A Fig. 3 a detail pers ctive sectional view illustrating the meth of formin joint between the cover and bo y of the vault.A

The preferred form' of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises the usual rectangular body made of reinforced concrete and -having its edges enlarged and provided with a central groove 11, as shown. A The sides 12 and 13 of the roove 11 are made conver ing or sloping in orm `so -that said groove ecomes narrower toward its bottom, the inner side of the bein very considerably higher than l ove ig outer si e thereof, as shown. The borders 1 land 15 of the groove 11 are made out'wa dly slopin in form, as shown.

The cover 16 o the vault is also in usual form and made of `reinforced concrete. Around its edges the .cover 16 is provided with a' depending sealing tongue or rib 17 to fit within thegroove 11, as shown. The innerY side of the tongue 17 is outwardly a sealed v space in t sloping in form and substantially' parallel to the inner side 12 of the groove 11, but the 'outer side 19 of said tongue is made substantially vertical for a purpose to be presently mentioned. The underside of thecover 16 at the points 20 and 21 adjacent the tongue 17 is shaped, asvshown, to conform substantially to the borders 14 andl of the groove 11, the bod ofthe cover 16 being'tra-nsversely arc ed, as indicated. A suitable quantity 22 of cement or other suitable plastic sealing material is placed in the bottom of the groove 11 before the cover 16 of the vault is placed in position. Then the cover of the vault is forced downwardly to cause the tongue 17 to enter the groove 11, as best shownv in Fig. 2. The quantit o'f plasticl material in vthe roove 1s pre erably such that the entry o the tongue 17 intosaid groove causes said material to flow upwardy around said tonvue and over the surfaces cient seal. The slopin groove and ton e ten to `guide the cover into proper position as do also the outwardl sloping surfaces 14 and 20. The form of the sides 13 and 19 of the groove and tongue form an u wardly and outwardly diverging lie outer side of the groove as the tongue 17 is forced into place therein, said upwardly and outwardl diverging s ace, and the lower height o Athe outer si e of the groove tending to induce outward flow of any excess of cement in the groove and thus tending to preventllowin of the ce- 14 and 15, thus ehecting a tight and efliinner sides of the` ment into the body of the vau t proper in f cause too much cement is groov`e at points. y

By arranging the inn'er side of the groove 11 higher than the outer sideethereof, should there be any defect in the seal thus effected an automatic water trap or seal is provided against the entry of water or moisture from placed in the the outside into the vault. In placing the cover in place, as soon as the lower edge of the tongue 17 enters theybody of cement 22 in the bottom of the groove 11, an air seal is effected which tra s or confines the air in the vault so that girther depression vof the cover in placing-theI saine in position sli htly compresses t e air in the vault and t us places said air under slight pressure. Such slight ressure also has Ia tendency to exclude air andmoisture-from the interior of the vault. y f

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction and method of procedure for carrying m invention into effect these are capable o variation and modification Without de arting from the spirit of the invention. therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim: i j 12.* j

1. A construction of the class described comprising a body land a cover therefor, there being a groove in the edges of saidbody, the borders of said groove being outwardly sloping in form; a tongue on said cover fitting into said groove; and a seal of plastic material in said groove around said tongue. v

2. A construction of the class described comprising a body and a cover therefor, there being a groove in the edges of said body, the borders of said groove being outwax-diy sloping in form and the inner border being higher than the outer one; a tongue on said cover fitting into said groove, the underside of said cover conforming substantially to the borders of said groove; and a seal of lastic material in said groove around said) tongue.

3. A construction of the class described comprising a body and a cover therefor, the edges of said body being enlarged and provided with a central groove having down- Wardly converging sides, the borders of said groove being outwardly sloping in form and the inner border being higher than the outer one; a tongue on said cover fitting into said groove, the inner side of said tongue being substantially parallel to the inner side of said groove and the outer side of said tongue being substantially vertical, the underside of said cover conforming substantially to the borders of said groove; and a seal of plas-v tic material in said groove and on the bordersl thereof.

4. The method of sealing burial vaults which consists in providing a body and cover therefor, the edges of said body being provided with a central groove having its inner side higher than the outer side thereof, the bordersof said groove being outwardly sloping in form and the cover being provided with a depending tongue fitting into said groove; then placing said cover in place and Iforcing said tongue downwardly into said groove.

5. The method of sealing burial vaults which consists in providing a body and cover therefor, the edges of said body being provided with a central groove having its linner side higher than the outer side thereof, the borders of said groove being outwardly sloping in form and the cover being provided with a depending tongue fitting into saidk groove; then placing said cover in place and forcing said tongue downdll wardly into said groove, to cause said plas- I one; a tongueon said cover fitting into but somewhat smaller than said groove, the inner side'of said tongue sloping outwardly and downwardly substantially parallel to the inner side of said groove and the outer side of said tongue being substantially vertical,

thereby providing an inner space around said tongue having substantially parallel sides and an outer space having upwardly diverging sides; and a seal of plastic material in said groove.

In testimony whereof I afiix mv signature at 1609 First National Bank Building, Detroit, Michigan.

JOHN J. SCHEEL. 

